February 7th was the date for WIN for KC’s Women’s Sports Awards Celebration. The 26th annual event was held at the Kansas City Convention Center. Natalie Coughlin, American swimmer and 12-time Olympic medalist, was the keynote speaker. Maria Maffry and Whitney Bartelli served as the co-chairmen. The event is the largest celebration of National Girls […]

January 25th was the date for the Challenge Your Fashion gala. Partygoers enjoyed cocktails, dinner, a silent auction, a live auction hosted by Rex Hudler and The Nigro Brothers, and dancing to the tunes of Lost Wax. The 13th annual event featured a fashion show with sports celebrities and YMCA Challenger athletes and buddies. Aly […]

Georgia McLiney Nestor is the new girl in Town! Gigi, as she is known, was born on November 27th to Megan Hart Nestor and Steven Nestor of Kansas City, Missouri. The blue-eyed brunette weighed seven pounds, nine ounces at birth and was 19-1/4 inches long. Gigi has an older brother, John Ignatius Nestor, who is […]

India M. Williams is the Director of KIPP Through College at KIPP Endeavor Academy. Her team supports students as they prepare and select the right college and career based on their interests and passions. In May of 2019, the Kansas City native was appointed by United States Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II to the Black/Brown Coalition. […]

Mr. and Mrs. Mansour Nouri of Lee’s Summit, Missouri, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Jessica Nouri, to Dylan Aldrich, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James Aldrich of Prairie Village, Kansas. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Mr. and Mrs. Louis Smith of Leawood, Kansas, and the late Fatemeh Dayani Nouri […]

More than 1,600 guests gathered on February 15th for The Hands & Hearts Auxiliary of Children’s Mercy’s Red Hot Night. The 16th annual event was held at the Kansas City Convention Center. Partygoers enjoyed cocktails, a gourmet dinner by Fiorella’s, performance art by Quixotic, music by Lost Wax, and dancing. Proceeds support Children’s Mercy’s mission […]

Many years ago when I graduated to more young adult-and adult books, I was incredibly interested in the thoughts and perspectives of the characters. I wanted to know why they made the decisions they did and what drove them. Those questions have driven me through many a biography and it’s why I have a particular […]

When I was looking for a restaurant I hadn’t visited, my friend, Lynne, said, ‘Have you considered one of my family’s favorite Mexican restaurants, Dos de Oros?” I hadn’t. But since I’ve been there, I’ll be returning soon, for sure. With its low ceilings, weathered driftwood walls festooned with sombreros, the restaurant’s casual vibe belies […]

Audra Clark is a member of the Centurions Fall Class of 2020. Her involvement has included helping plan the November Education Task Force and serving as co-chairman of the community leadership committee. Audra is the executive director of City Year Kansas City, a non-profit organization that focuses on keeping students in the Kansas City, Missouri, […]

What’s a garden without birds? Or, in this case, Byrds? Anne and Wayne Byrd are the honorary chairmen for Stems: A Garden Soirée, which will be held on June 27th at the Overland Park Arboretum & Botanical Gardens. Wayne was the founding president of the Arts & Recreation Foundation of Overland Park, which is celebrating […]

In 2010, Band of Angels was formed to assist students wishing to learn to play music. The organization has donated more than 2,200 musical instruments and funded 315 full scholarships to camps in 15 states. Meyer Music and FOX 4 TV hosted the ninth annual Band of Angels Heart Strings Gala. The event was held […]

Members of the Kansas City Ballet Bolender Society gathered on January 23rd at Hallbrook Country Club for A Musical Evening with Ramona: The Music of Tchaikovsky with Ramona Pansegrau, music director. The festive event featured a cocktail and refreshment reception and special performances by Second Company dancers. Bolender Society members were thrilled by Devon Carney’s […]

Heart of America Shakespeare Festival’s Romantic Revels Black and White Ball was held on February 15th at the InterContinental Kansas City at the Plaza. Dr. Roopa Bansal was the honorary chairman. Kelly and Joe Privitera received the Founder’s Award. Guests imbibed the signature cocktail, The Tempest, named for the upcoming summer production. Highlights of the […]

Dr. Alison Maria Scholes of Mission Hills, Kansas, and Mr. James Philip Starr of Kansas City, Missouri, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Emma Jeannette Starr, to Nicholas Joseph Tymkiw, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Richard Tymkiw of Slidell, Louisiana. The bride-to-be is the granddaughter of Dr. Susan Ann Ellis […]

Each of the individuals selected to be honored in The Independent’s 2020 Class of Rising Stars were big dreamers about professional success, but more importantly about giving back to our community. Heartfelt congratulations were given to the seven honorees, Ruth Brackney, Jason Carter-Solomon, Chuck Cuda, Chris Miller, Bess Wallerstein Huff, India Williams, and Jason Wright, […]

On a good day, I will welcome guests into my home if I am given enough notice to trick them into thinking I have full control over the toddler toy tornado inside. Our house, a Williamsburg Colonial on a charming cul-de-sac in Prairie Village, is filled with blues, whites, and cheerful colors. It is a […]

“Local boy makes good” – such stories are traditionally earnest and heartwarming, and, to be frank, often a little on the dull side. The saga of Blevins Davis, however, is anything but predictable. He was born Charles Blevins Davis, the son of Julia Blevins Davis and Charles Ammon Davis, in Osceola, Missouri, in May 1903. […]

Dr. and Mrs. Edward Francis Higgins of Mission Hills, Kansas, are pleased to announce the engagement of their daughter, Dr. Margaret MacBean Higgins, to Dr. John Frederick Shuler, the son of Dr. Perri Ann Ginder and Dr. Frederick Noah Shuler of Kansas City, Missouri. The bride-to-be and her groom-elect are both graduates of The University […]

The art-filled home of Gretchen and Dr. Larry Jacobson was the site of a dinner for the Board of Advisors of the Harriman-Jewell Series on January 20th. The event celebrated the 55th season of the Series. Violinist Anne-Sophie Mutter was the special guest, and her recital was held the following evening. Ronald and Phyllis Nolan […]

Being the mother of a sick child who was helped by Children’s Mercy 21 years ago led Becky DeKnight to her current role as a volunteer in the NICU. Her friendly demeanor and smiling face are just what the families need while navigating a medical issue. The staff is dedicated to helping the children, and […]

Mark Mattison is a member  of The Independent’s Rising Star, Class of 2019. He is the director of major gifts for the UMKC Conservatory. Steering the work of volunteer committees of the Friends of the Conservatory, last year Mark helped set a record fundraising goal of $633,000 for their Crescendo gala. Mark also initiated the […]